The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is indescribable. While Secretary of State Tony Blinken was traipsing around Tel Aviv today, attending an Israeli war cabinet meeting for five hours, the World Health Organization charged yesterday that Israel’s order for north Gaza residents to evacuate is tantamount to “a death sentence,” as this applies to 22 hospitals in the north, many of whose 2,000 patients are too ill to be moved. The WHO called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and protection of health facilities. Despite war conditions and constant Israeli bombardments, WHO teams have been able to deliver medical supplies to 2,000 patients in Gaza.
As of late this afternoon, the Palestinian death count stands at 2,808 with 10,850 wounded, according to the Gaza government press office. The Israeli death toll is still being reported at 1,400. Although those in Gaza City were told to evacuate south for “safety” reasons, Israel is indiscriminately bombing “targets” in that region. Homes, sometimes with families inside, are bombed. There are contradictory reports on the number of Palestinians displaced, ranging from 600,000 to 1 million.
